L'amore to Travel

Iceland – Gorgeous Waterfalls, Beautiful Geology, and Amazing Food

Originally when I was planning to travel to Iceland, I targeted about a week. As I started to explore what to see and do, I extended my trip to 2 weeks; it was still not enough time.

The International airport in Iceland is the Keflavik International Airport (KEF) in the Southern Peninsula.

I only had time to visit Reykjavik, the Southern Region, the Western Region, and the West Fjords. I ran out of time and missed the Northern and Eastern Regions; this just means I will have to find the time to go back.

I chose to rent a car through Zero Car Rental so I could spend more time seeing sites and less time travelling. Regardless of who you rent through, the rental car companies are a short walk from the airport exit.

Here are some learnings/experiences to keep in mind when travelling to Iceland:

  • If you rent a car and given the many bumpy, potholed roads, make sure to spend the extra $$ for full insurance coverage.
  • I tried to avoid letting my gas tank go below 1/2. I did not know when the next gas station would be or if the gas station I found would even have gas. Do not let your tank run empty.
  • Expect the weather to change quickly. Reykjavik was warm; however, as I traveled north, the temperature dropped especially in the evening. Plan for warm, cold, sunny, windy, wet, and snowy weather.
  • Iceland is a photographer’s dream! The landscape, waterfalls, topography, and northern lights are amazing. Make sure to bring a sturdy tri-pod, at least an 18-150mm lens, and neutral density filters (for the waterfall blur effect).
  • The food in Iceland is wonderful – unless you are planning on buying and making all of your meals, plan to spend at least $100-$150 USD for 2 people for dinner.

Before embarking on your Icelandic trip, here is a few Icelandic site translations so you know what you are visiting when you see a site name:

  • “foss” = waterfall
  • “fell” = mountain
  • “jökull” = glacier
  • “vik” = bay or fjord

Since there are so many places to see and things to do in Iceland, I broke out my Icelandic experience and content by region to make it easier for you to plan your trip.

Reykjavik/Southern Peninsula

Since Reykjavik and the Southern Peninsula are so close, I combined them into one section. With the time zone change, I decided to start my trip with 2-3 days in Reykjavik to adjust to the time, orient myself to the area, and determine what I wanted to see and do. There are many places in the western Southern Region within easy reach, if you are short on time.

The “large” KEF airport. The rental cars are in the upper right.
Sunrise view from our Reykjavik Airbnb.
Be prepared to take lots of pictures.
Dinner at the Food Cellar – Cod dish – Yum!
Close up of the Hallgrimskirkja Cathedral in downtown Reykjavik.
Harpa Concert Hall in downtown Reykjavik – beautiful architecture.
Sun Voyager sculpture in downtown Reykjavik.
Þórufoss falls- the people are for scale.
Blue Lagoon – it is touristy but I had fun. The water was nice and toasty warm, the air…

Reykjavik Recommendations

Lodging
  • Reykjavik Airbnb – Gerdur Apartment – Great location – within a short distance to the grocery store and downtown Reykjavik.
Dining
  • Apotek
  • Food Cellar – I ate here twice!
  • Costco – Gelato Ice Cream (and cheap gas)
Activities
  • Blue Lagoon
  • Downtown Reykjavik – Harpa Concert Hall, Skólavörðustígur Rainbow Street, Sun Voyager sculpture
  • Þórufoss
Back to Travel

Southern Region

If you do not see waterfalls in Iceland, then you are not in Iceland! There are waterfalls, everywhere! The Southern Region is part of the Golden Circle and there are many places to stop and see.

Only in Iceland are both the North-American and Eurasian Plates above sea level.
Scenic view overlooking Þingvellir National Park, where you can see the North-American and Eurasion Plates.
Strokkur Geyser – located a short walk from the road. There is information as to when the Geyser will erupt.
Skógafoss falls – the spray generated a beautiful rainbow when the sun hit is just right.
Hestavaðsfoss falls – above Skógafoss falls. There are 9 falls total so give yourself a couple of hours if you want to see them all.
Otto Matur & Drykkur restaurant in Hofn – food was fantastic!
Svínafellsjökull Glacier – you can hike right up to it or take a tour and walk on it.
Glacier in the background and icebergs in the foreground – slowly headed out to sea
Sun shining through a melting iceberg – this is the reason why it is called diamond beach
Gulfoss Falls – these falls were loud, large, and amazing!
Brúarfoss falls – the only falls I saw that were this pretty blue color
Seljalandsfoss Falls – one of the few falls you can walk behind.
Wide view of the basalt columns at the Black Sand Beach Reynisfjara
Stone stack art (and rain). Be careful of sneaker waves – there is no land mass between Reyhisfhara and Antartica.
Northern Lights! Be in a place with no lights and have your tri-pod ready.

Southern Region Recommendations

Lodging
Dining
Activities
  • Bruarfoss falls
  • Diamond Beach
  • Gulfoss falls
  • Þingvellir National Park
  • Reynisfjara Beach
  • Seljalandsfoss Falls
  • Skógafoss falls – and the hike to the 9 waterfalls behind it
  • Strokkur Geyser
Back to travel

Western Region

For me, the most interesting area in the Western Region is the Peninsula. Driving around Snæfellsjökull National Park and the sights along the way is what makes this area so interesting.

Standing in front of the Gerðuberg Cliffs. These are made out of black lava columns.
Bjarnarfoss falls – it was a hike from the road, but well worth it.
Arnarstapi Cliff – Lori’s mom thinks they look like kissing bears.
Half troll-half man Bárður Snæfellsás statue – he protects the Snæfellsnes peninsula.
Sunrise at the base of Kirkjufell Mountain – this was the view from my Airbnb.
THE Shot – Kirkafellfoss and Kirkafell mountain (about 30 seconds before the sun went behind the clouds).
My Airbnb is the one on the right – this was my favorite lodging place in Iceland because of its location.
Dinner at Bjargarsteinn Mathús – I ate here the 2 nights I was in Grundarfjord because the food was so good!
Kirkafellfoss – too bad it was cloudy and overcast. I will just have to come back!
Svöðufoss falls.
Djúpalónssandur black sand beach – this is NOT a black and white photo.
Malarrif Lighthouse

Western Region Recommendations

Lodging
  • Grundarfjörður – Airbnb – Kirkjufell Mountain is in your “backyard”
Dining
  • Grundarfjörður – Bjargarsteinn Mathús – Situated in a house built in 1908; great atmosphere and food. I ate here twice!
Activities
  • Arnarstapi Cliffs
  • Bjarnarfoss
  • Djúpalónssandur black sand beach
  • Kirkjufell and Kirkjufellsfoss – DO NOT MISS!
  • Svöðufoss
Back to travel

West Fjords

I loved the West Fjords! Because it is out of the way, it is not nearly as crowded as the other places I visited. My best dinner of the entire trip was at Tjöruhúsið, and Dynjandi waterfall, my favorite waterfall, were both located in the West Fjords.

Decided to go to Iceland’s Saltverks since it was raining outside. They hand harvest all of their salt.
Benefits of rain – when the sun comes out there is a beautiful RAINBOW!
Látrabjarg Cliffs – highest cliffs in Iceland. I was hoping for puffins, but I was there at the wrong season.
Önundarfjörður Pier – this was walking distance from the Holt Inn.
Dynjandi waterfall – people are included for size.
Dinner buffet at Tjöruhúsið Restaurant – best meal of the trip! Fish caught that day and cooked in the kitchen behind the buffet.

West Fjord Recommendations

Lodging
  • Holmavik Guesthouse – The rooms are small and be aware that some rooms share a bathroom and shower with other rooms.
  • Holt Inn – it is cheaper to book through their website. The rooms are clean and the breakfast is pretty simple – cereal, yogurt, juice, and coffee.
Dining
  • Holt – Tjöruhúsið – AMAZING BUFFET! This was my favorite place
Activities
  • Dynjandi waterfall (WOW!)
  • Saltverks
Back to travel